"The Zodiac"

Psalm 147:4 (ESV)

15 March 2009

Third Sunday in Lent

U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris

Fortress Chapel

Contingency Operation Site (C.O.S.) Sykes

Tall-afar, Iraq

BIG IDEA: When we look up into the sky and see the sun during the day, and the stars at night, we are reminded that God created the sun and the stars; He knows how many stars there are and He knows them by name.

REFERENCES: Job 38:32 (NIV) Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs? Psalm 19 (ESV); Exodus 20:1-17 (ESV); 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (ESV); John 2:13-22 (ESV); Psalm 147:4 (ESV) He determines the number of stars; he gives to all of them their names; Isaiah 40:26 (ESV) Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing; Acts 14:8-18 (ESV) Paul and Barnabas at Lystra – Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Herme, because he was the chief speaker; Romans 1:19-20 (ESV) For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse; Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths; Proverbs 14:12 (ESV) There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death; Genesis 15:5 (ESV) And he brought him outside and said, “look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, So shall your offspring be; Romans 10:18-19 (ESV) But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry”; Psalm 19:4 (ESV) Their measuring line goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber; Genesis 22:17 (ESV) I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand and that is on the seashore; Genesis 1:16 (ESV) And God made the two great lights – the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night – and the stars. Hebrews 11:12 (ESV) Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore;

I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Psalm 19:1-6 (ESV) & Psalm 147:4 (ESV)

II. READ THE PERICOPE: Psalm 19 1-6 (ESV) & Psalm 147:4 (ESV)

III. READ THE TEXT: Psalm 19:4-6 (ESV) Their measuring line goes out

through all the earth, and their words to the end of

of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,

which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his

chamber,and,like a strong man, runs its course with

joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and

its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing

hidden from its heat.

&

Psalm 147:4 (ESV) He determines the number of

stars; he gives to all of them their names.

IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to affirm to others that when we look up into the sky and see the sun (during the day) and the stars at night, we are reminded of the wonderful work of God and Creationism.

V. SERMONIC THEME: “The Zodiac”

VI. INTRODUCTION:

The Greek term for Zodiac is “sodi” which means “a path”. More specifically, … the path through which the Sun travels.

When we look up into the sky and see the sun during the day, and the stars at night, we are reminded that God created the sun and the stars; He knows how many stars there are and He knows them by name.

Now, my brothers and sisters, you may already be aware of the fact that every nation has some form of the Zodiac. The Zodiac has become a method for astronomers to mark the path of the moon and the planets, as their movements also remain within the original twelve constellations.